National Fajita Day is celebrated annually on August 18. Established in 2016 by On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, the day honors the beloved Tex-Mex dish. Fajitas, however, have a much longer history, tracing back to the 1930s in South and West Texas, where Mexican cowboys, or vaqueros, received skirt steak as part of their pay and cooked it over open fires, serving it with tortillas. This resourceful cooking practice gave birth to the first fajitas.
By 1969, fajitas began appearing commercially, and during the 1970s and 1980s, restaurants like Ninfa’s in Houston and the Hyatt in Austin helped popularize the dish, spreading its fame across the United States. National Fajita Day celebrates this rich culinary history while giving fans an excuse to enjoy sizzling fajitas with all the classic toppings.
Fajitas are very versatile and customizable. You can choose your favorite meats, veggies, and toppings, making them appealing to everyone. Eating fajitas is also a fun, hands-on experience. You get to build your own by filling a tortilla with whatever you like best, making it a great meal to share with family and friends.
Fajitas can also be a healthy choice, especially if you load them up with vegetables and lean proteins. Using whole wheat tortillas and fresh toppings like salsa or guacamole adds even more nutrients.
So, whether you’re at home or dining out, National Fajita Day is the perfect time to enjoy some delicious fajitas with the people you love.
🇲🇽 Similar holidays include National Taco Day , National Quesadilla Day, National Burrito Day, National Nachos Day, National Chimichanga Day, all offering more chances to celebrate the flavors of Mexican cuisine.
When is National Fajita Day?
National Fajita Day is celebrated annually on August 18th. This table contains the dates and weekdays for National Fajita Day up to the year 2030, making it is easy for you to plan ahead:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | August 18, Monday |
| 2026 | August 18, Tuesday |
| 2027 | August 18, Wednesday |
| 2028 | August 18, Friday |
| 2029 | August 18, Saturday |
| 2030 | August 18, Sunday |
Fajita Recipes and Cooking Tips
If you can’t visit a Mexican restaurant this National Fajita Day, then why not cook at home? After all, nothing beats the satisfaction of making delicious fajitas at home. TO make things easier for you, these recipes and tips will help you create the perfect fajitas.
- Classic recipes: One of the best ways to celebrate National Fajita Day is by making your own fajitas at home. Start with the classic recipe: marinate some skirt steak in lime juice, garlic, and spices, then grill it up with onions and bell peppers. Serve it sizzling hot with warm tortillas, guacamole, and salsa.
- Creative twists: If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try a new twist on fajitas? You can make chicken or shrimp fajitas, or even a vegetarian version with portobello mushrooms and zucchini. For something really different, try a fusion recipe like Korean BBQ fajitas or Thai-inspired fajitas with peanut sauce.
- Perfecting fajitas: To make the best fajitas, there are a few key tips. First, marinate your meat to make it tender and flavorful. Second, cook the meat and vegetables on high heat to get that perfect char. Lastly, serve everything hot and fresh, straight from the pan to the table. And don’t forget the toppings—cheese, sour cream, and pico de gallo can take your fajitas to the next level. Want to see a master at work? Check out how YouTuber and International Barbecue Cooker’s Association Hall of Fame Inductee ArnieTex makes the perfect restaurant fajitas in this short video:
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
📝 This article was originally published on July 31st, 2024. It has been thoroughly updated, and the publishing date has been changed to reflect the new version.
